Decisions ahead for Croatan QB/wrestler Colborn

Croatan quarterback Andrew Colborn throws a passing while warming up for a recent 7-on-7 game against Swansboro.

Chris Miller/The Daily News

By Chris Miller-Prep Sports Writer

Published: Thursday, July 24, 2014 at 08:00 AM.

BROAD CREEK | Football or wrestling? Or maybe both?

These are questions 5-foot-11, 195-pound Andrew Colborn asks himself as he enters his senior year at Croatan High and ponders his college choices.

In football, he’s a strong-armed quarterback big enough to remain in the pocket for lengthy periods with the ability to look over the line to find receivers. In wrestling, Colborn is a three-time state qualifier who finished the 2014 season 61-3 overall and third in the 195-pound weight class in the NCHSAA championships in Greensboro and someone who appears to be a contender to win a title this winter.

It’s safe to say Colborn has some college options.

“He does,” Croatan football and wrestling coach Dave Perry said.

The 17-year-old Colborn knows he has a future in one sport or the other at the next level. He just doesn’t know what sport he will pick. Colborn said that Campbell and Old Dominion are among the schools that have expressed interest in him as a wrestler but that he hasn’t heard anything yet for football, although he hopes that changes after this fall.

“I have started (the process) and I just don’t know which one I will pick,” Colborn said. “Even if I pick wrestling or pick football, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is my favorite sport. It just might mean I might do better in that sport.”

Of course, Colborn quickly added, that there’s a possibility he can get the best of both worlds and do both sports in college.

“That’s always an option,” he said. “I might go to a smaller school and do both. I will just see what happens in the next year.”

Excuse Colborn for being torn about what he wants to do in college. He enjoys both wrestling and football, having started the former in the first grade and the latter in the second grade.

He said both sports have helped “me become tough, physically and mentality.” Colborn is also a linebacker on the football team, which opens official practice Aug. 1 and kicks off the regular season Aug. 22 at Pamlico.

“I would have to say the one thing I get from both is toughness,” Colborn said. “You have to fight through everything, whether it be an injury or an 0-11 (football) season or just everything. It gives you the toughness to just fight through everything.”

Colborn believes football and wrestling go hand-and-hand in other ways as well.

“Wrestling helps football with balance and learning where to be at the right time,” Colborn said. “As a linebacker, you have to be in a good stance, and in wrestling you have to be in a good stance.”

Ultimately, Colborn hopes to stand tall this football season and next wrestling season. Earlier this summer, he went 8-0 in the Orlando Disney Duals, a feat he hopes helps him win a state title next season on the mat at the Greensboro Coliseum.

But right now Colborn is focused on helping Croatan win football games after the Cougars went 0-11 last year. While he had a good individual season, throwing for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns to make the second team of The Daily News all-area team, Colborn said last year’s winless season has gnawed at him.

“I tell everybody every day that it has to be in the back of their minds that we went 0-11,” Colborn said. “It’s definitely a personal thing. I would much rather have 2 yards passing and 2 yards rushing and win a football game every time.”

Perry is hoping Colborn can help lead the way on both sides.

“The good thing for us is that we are going to be able to run the ball and throw it...., and he’s going to be able to run the option well because he’s a tough, physical runner who is strong,” Perry said. “He’s one of the strongest kids on the team. He’s going to be quarterback again and will probably play some defense again. He might actually be a better defensive player than an offensive player.”

Colborn, who said his strength is reading defenses, believes the Cougars return plenty of talent to be a good team. He understands he will be looked upon to play well but said it will require a team effort if Croatan is to be good.

“We have such great athletic ability with our wide receivers and the same with our run game,” Colborn said. “We are very diverse.”

Just like Colborn.

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These are questions 5-foot-11, 195-pound Andrew Colborn asks himself as he enters his senior year at Croatan High and ponders his college choices.

In football, he’s a strong-armed quarterback big enough to remain in the pocket for lengthy periods with the ability to look over the line to find receivers. In wrestling, Colborn is a three-time state qualifier who finished the 2014 season 61-3 overall and third in the 195-pound weight class in the NCHSAA championships in Greensboro and someone who appears to be a contender to win a title this winter.

It’s safe to say Colborn has some college options.

“He does,” Croatan football and wrestling coach Dave Perry said.

The 17-year-old Colborn knows he has a future in one sport or the other at the next level. He just doesn’t know what sport he will pick. Colborn said that Campbell and Old Dominion are among the schools that have expressed interest in him as a wrestler but that he hasn’t heard anything yet for football, although he hopes that changes after this fall.

“I have started (the process) and I just don’t know which one I will pick,” Colborn said. “Even if I pick wrestling or pick football, it doesn’t necessarily mean that it is my favorite sport. It just might mean I might do better in that sport.”

Of course, Colborn quickly added, that there’s a possibility he can get the best of both worlds and do both sports in college.

“That’s always an option,” he said. “I might go to a smaller school and do both. I will just see what happens in the next year.”

Excuse Colborn for being torn about what he wants to do in college. He enjoys both wrestling and football, having started the former in the first grade and the latter in the second grade.

He said both sports have helped “me become tough, physically and mentality.” Colborn is also a linebacker on the football team, which opens official practice Aug. 1 and kicks off the regular season Aug. 22 at Pamlico.

“I would have to say the one thing I get from both is toughness,” Colborn said. “You have to fight through everything, whether it be an injury or an 0-11 (football) season or just everything. It gives you the toughness to just fight through everything.”

Colborn believes football and wrestling go hand-and-hand in other ways as well.

“Wrestling helps football with balance and learning where to be at the right time,” Colborn said. “As a linebacker, you have to be in a good stance, and in wrestling you have to be in a good stance.”

Ultimately, Colborn hopes to stand tall this football season and next wrestling season. Earlier this summer, he went 8-0 in the Orlando Disney Duals, a feat he hopes helps him win a state title next season on the mat at the Greensboro Coliseum.

But right now Colborn is focused on helping Croatan win football games after the Cougars went 0-11 last year. While he had a good individual season, throwing for 1,230 yards and 13 touchdowns to make the second team of The Daily News all-area team, Colborn said last year’s winless season has gnawed at him.

“I tell everybody every day that it has to be in the back of their minds that we went 0-11,” Colborn said. “It’s definitely a personal thing. I would much rather have 2 yards passing and 2 yards rushing and win a football game every time.”

Perry is hoping Colborn can help lead the way on both sides.

“The good thing for us is that we are going to be able to run the ball and throw it...., and he’s going to be able to run the option well because he’s a tough, physical runner who is strong,” Perry said. “He’s one of the strongest kids on the team. He’s going to be quarterback again and will probably play some defense again. He might actually be a better defensive player than an offensive player.”

Colborn, who said his strength is reading defenses, believes the Cougars return plenty of talent to be a good team. He understands he will be looked upon to play well but said it will require a team effort if Croatan is to be good.

“We have such great athletic ability with our wide receivers and the same with our run game,” Colborn said. “We are very diverse.”